Electronic device and method for obtaining information associated with fingerprint

ABSTRACT

An electronic device according to various embodiments may include a display, a touch sensor operatively coupled with the display, and a fingerprint sensor disposed below the display and operatively coupled with the touch sensor. The fingerprint sensor may be configured to obtain at least one image for calibrating a fingerprint image, receive a signal indicating detection of a touch input from the touch sensor while obtaining the at least one image, and cease to obtain the at least one image, based on the reception of the signal.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/690,431, filed Nov. 21, 2019, which claims priority to KR10-2018-0145472, filed Nov. 22, 2018, the entire contents of which areall hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND Field

The disclosure relates to an electronic device for obtaining informationassociated with a fingerprint, and a method thereof.

Description of Related Art

A method for authentication a user using a fingerprint is used toenhance security of an electronic device. In order to authenticate theuser using the fingerprint, the electronic device may include afingerprint sensor to obtain a fingerprint image.

In order to provide enhanced usability, there are growing needs forincluding a fingerprint sensor disposed as an in-display type in anelectronic device. Therefore, a method for performing authenticationusing the fingerprint sensor disposed as an in-display type may berequired.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the disclosure are not limited to the technical problemsmentioned above, and other unmentioned technical problems can be clearlyunderstood by those skilled in the art from descriptions below.

An electronic device according to various example embodiments mayinclude a display, a touch sensor operatively coupled with the display,and a fingerprint sensor disposed below the display and operativelycoupled with the touch sensor. The fingerprint sensor may be configuredto: obtain at least one image for calibrating a fingerprint image,receive a signal indicating detection of a touch input from the touchsensor while obtaining the at least one image, and cease to obtain theat least one image based on the reception of the signal.

An electronic device according to various example embodiments mayinclude a display, a fingerprint sensor disposed below the display, atouch sensor operatively coupled with the display and the fingerprintsensor, and at least one processor. The fingerprint sensor may beconfigured to receive from the at least one processor a signalrequesting the fingerprint sensor to obtain the at least one fingerprintimage to register a fingerprint or to recognize the fingerprint,identify whether the signal indicating detection of a touch input isreceived from the touch sensor, in response to receiving the signalrequesting to obtain the at least one fingerprint image, obtain the atleast one fingerprint image in response to receiving the signalindicating the detection of the touch input from the touch sensor, andtransmit, to the at least one processor, information on the at least onefingerprint image for the registration or recognition of thefingerprint, in response to the obtaining.

An electronic device according to various example embodiments mayinclude a display, a fingerprint sensor disposed below the display, atouch sensor operatively coupled with the fingerprint sensor and thedisplay, and at least one processor. The fingerprint sensor isconfigured to receive a signal requesting the fingerprint sensor toobtain a fingerprint image from the at least one processor while thefingerprint sensor is in an inactive state, switch a state of thefingerprint sensor to a standby state for identifying whether a signalindicating detection of a touch input is received from the touch sensorin response to receiving the signal requesting to obtain the at leastone fingerprint image, switch the standby state to an active state inresponse to receiving the signal indicating the detection of the touchinput from the touch sensor while in the standby state, obtain thefingerprint image in response to the switching, and transmit informationon the fingerprint image to the at least one processor in response tothe obtaining.

A method for operating an electronic device according to various exampleembodiments may include obtaining at least one image for calibrating afingerprint image by a fingerprint sensor of the electronic device, thefingerprint sensor being disposed below a display of the electronicdevice, receiving a signal indicating detection of a touch input fromthe touch sensor of the electronic device while the fingerprint sensorobtains the at least one image, and ceasing to obtain the at least oneimage by the fingerprint sensor, based on the reception of the signal.

A method for operating an electronic device according to various exampleembodiments may include receiving from the at least one processor of theelectronic device by a fingerprint sensor of the electronic devicedisposed below a display of the electronic device, a signal requestingto obtain the at least one fingerprint image to register a fingerprintor to recognize the fingerprint, identifying whether the signalindicating detection of a touch input is received from the touch sensorof the electronic device, in response to receiving the signal requestingto obtain the at least one fingerprint image by the fingerprint sensor,obtaining, the at least one fingerprint image in response to receivingthe signal indicating the detection of the touch input by thefingerprint sensor from the touch sensor of the electronic device, andtransmitting information on the at least one fingerprint image for theregistration or recognition of the fingerprint to the at least oneprocessor by the fingerprint sensor in response to the obtaining.

A method for operating an electronic device according to various exampleembodiments may include receiving, from the at least one processor ofthe electronic device by a fingerprint sensor a signal requesting toobtain a fingerprint image, while the fingerprint sensor of theelectronic device, disposed below a display of the electronic device, isin an inactive state, switching a state of the fingerprint sensor to astandby state for identifying whether a signal indicating detection of atouch input is received from the touch sensor of the electronic devicein response to receiving the signal requesting the fingerprint sensor toobtain the at least one fingerprint image by the fingerprint sensor,switching the standby state to an active state by the fingerprint sensorin response to receiving the signal indicating the detection of thetouch input from the touch sensor while the fingerprint sensor is in thestandby state, obtaining the fingerprint image by the fingerprint sensorin response to the switching, and transmitting information on thefingerprint image to the at least one processor by the fingerprintsensor in response to the obtaining.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certainembodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparent from thefollowing detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example electronic device in anetwork environment according to various embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example electronic deviceaccording to various embodiments;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an examplefingerprint sensor and a display in an electronic device according tovarious embodiments;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example operation of an electronicdevice according to various embodiments;

FIG. 5 is a signal flow diagram illustrating example operations forregistering a fingerprint by components in an electronic deviceaccording to various embodiments;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example operation of an electronicdevice according to various embodiments;

FIG. 7 is a signal flow diagram illustrating example operations forcalibrating a fingerprint image by components in an electronic device ina state where no touch input is received according to variousembodiments;

FIG. 8 is a signal flow diagram illustrating example operations forcalibrating a fingerprint image by components in an electronic device ina state where a touch input is received according to variousembodiments;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example operation of a fingerprintsensor of an electronic device which ceases to obtain an image accordingto various embodiments;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example operation of afingerprint sensor of an electronic device which performs triggering toobtain at least one image for calibrating a fingerprint image accordingto various embodiments;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example operation of afingerprint sensor of an electronic device which performs triggering toobtain at least one image for calibrating a fingerprint image accordingto various embodiments;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example operation of anelectronic device according to various embodiments; and

FIG. 13 is a signal flow diagram illustrating example operations ofcomponents of an electronic device for authentication which uses afingerprint according to various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device 101 in anetwork environment 100 according to various embodiments. Referring toFIG. 1 , the electronic device 101 in the network environment 100 maycommunicate with an electronic device 102 via a first network 198 (e.g.,a short-range wireless communication network), or an electronic device104 or a server 108 via a second network 199 (e.g., a long-rangewireless communication network). According to an embodiment, theelectronic device 101 may communicate with the electronic device 104 viathe server 108. According to an embodiment, the electronic device 101may include a processor 120, memory 130, an input device 150, a soundoutput device 155, a display device 160, an audio module 170, a sensormodule 176, an interface 177, a haptic module 179, a camera module 180,a power management module 188, a battery 189, a communication module190, a subscriber identification module (SIM) 196, or an antenna module197. In some embodiments, at least one (e.g., the display device 160 orthe camera module 180) of the components may be omitted from theelectronic device 101, or one or more other components may be added inthe electronic device 101. In some embodiments, some of the componentsmay be implemented as single integrated circuitry. For example, thesensor module 176 (e.g., a fingerprint sensor, an iris sensor, or anilluminance sensor) may be implemented as embedded in the display device160 (e.g., a display).

The processor 120 may execute, for example, software (e.g., a program140) to control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware orsoftware component) of the electronic device 101 coupled with theprocessor 120, and may perform various data processing or computation.According to an example embodiment, as at least part of the dataprocessing or computation, the processor 120 may load a command or datareceived from another component (e.g., the sensor module 176 or thecommunication module 190) in volatile memory 132, process the command orthe data stored in the volatile memory 132, and store resulting data innon-volatile memory 134. According to an embodiment, the processor 120may include a main processor 121 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU)or an application processor (AP)), and an auxiliary processor 123 (e.g.,a graphics processing unit (GPU), an image signal processor (ISP), asensor hub processor, or a communication processor (CP)) that isoperable independently from, or in conjunction with, the main processor121. Additionally or alternatively, the auxiliary processor 123 may beadapted to consume less power than the main processor 121, or to bespecific to a specified function. The auxiliary processor 123 may beimplemented as separate from, or as part of the main processor 121.

The auxiliary processor 123 may control at least some of functions orstates related to at least one component (e.g., the display device 160,the sensor module 176, or the communication module 190) among thecomponents of the electronic device 101, instead of the main processor121 while the main processor 121 is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state,or together with the main processor 121 while the main processor 121 isin an active state (e.g., executing an application). According to anembodiment, the auxiliary processor 123 (e.g., an image signal processoror a communication processor) may be implemented as part of anothercomponent (e.g., the camera module 180 or the communication module 190)functionally related to the auxiliary processor 123.

The memory 130 may store various data used by at least one component(e.g., the processor 120 or the sensor module 176) of the electronicdevice 101. The various data may include, for example, software (e.g.,the program 140) and input data or output data for a command relatedthereto. The memory 130 may include the volatile memory 132 or thenon-volatile memory 134.

The program 140 may be stored in the memory 130 as software, and mayinclude, for example, an operating system (OS) 142, middleware 144, oran application 146.

The input device 150 may receive a command or data to be used by othercomponent (e.g., the processor 120) of the electronic device 101, fromthe outside (e.g., a user) of the electronic device 101. The inputdevice 150 may include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard,or a digital pen (e.g., a stylus pen).

The sound output device 155 may output sound signals to the outside ofthe electronic device 101. The sound output device 155 may include, forexample, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker may be used for generalpurposes, such as playing multimedia or playing record, and the receivermay be used for an incoming calls. According to an embodiment, thereceiver may be implemented as separate from, or as part of the speaker.

The display device 160 may visually provide information to the outside(e.g., a user) of the electronic device 101. The display device 160 mayinclude, for example, a display, a hologram device, or a projector andcontrol circuitry to control a corresponding one of the display,hologram device, and projector. According to an embodiment, the displaydevice 160 may include touch circuitry adapted to detect a touch, orsensor circuitry (e.g., a pressure sensor) adapted to measure theintensity of force incurred by the touch.

The audio module 170 may convert a sound into an electrical signal andvice versa. According to an embodiment, the audio module 170 may obtainthe sound via the input device 150, or output the sound via the soundoutput device 155 or a headphone of an external electronic device (e.g.,an electronic device 102) directly (e.g., wiredly) or wirelessly coupledwith the electronic device 101.

The sensor module 176 may detect an operational state (e.g., power ortemperature) of the electronic device 101 or an environmental state(e.g., a state of a user) external to the electronic device 101, andthen generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to thedetected state. According to an embodiment, the sensor module 176 mayinclude, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, an atmosphericpressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gripsensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, abiometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or anilluminance sensor.

The interface 177 may support one or more specified protocols to be usedfor the electronic device 101 to be coupled with the external electronicdevice (e.g., the electronic device 102) directly (e.g., wiredly) orwirelessly. According to an embodiment, the interface 177 may include,for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universalserial bus (USB) interface, a secure digital (SD) card interface, or anaudio interface.

A connecting terminal 178 may include a connector via which theelectronic device 101 may be physically connected with the externalelectronic device (e.g., the electronic device 102). According to anembodiment, the connecting terminal 178 may include, for example, a HDMIconnector, a USB connector, a SD card connector, or an audio connector(e.g., a headphone connector).

The haptic module 179 may convert an electrical signal into a mechanicalstimulus (e.g., a vibration or a movement) or electrical stimulus whichmay be recognized by a user via his tactile sensation or kinestheticsensation. According to an embodiment, the haptic module 179 mayinclude, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electricstimulator.

The camera module 180 may capture a still image or moving images.According to an embodiment, the camera module 180 may include one ormore lenses, image sensors, image signal processors, or flashes.

The power management module 188 may manage power supplied to theelectronic device 101. According to an example embodiment, the powermanagement module 188 may be implemented as at least part of, forexample, a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

The battery 189 may supply power to at least one component of theelectronic device 101. According to an embodiment, the battery 189 mayinclude, for example, a primary cell which is not rechargeable, asecondary cell which is rechargeable, or a fuel cell.

The communication module 190 may support establishing a direct (e.g.,wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel betweenthe electronic device 101 and the external electronic device (e.g., theelectronic device 102, the electronic device 104, or the server 108) andperforming communication via the established communication channel. Thecommunication module 190 may include one or more communicationprocessors that are operable independently from the processor 120 (e.g.,the application processor (AP)) and supports a direct (e.g., wired)communication or a wireless communication. According to an embodiment,the communication module 190 may include a wireless communication module192 (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wirelesscommunication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS)communication module) or a wired communication module 194 (e.g., a localarea network (LAN) communication module or a power line communication(PLC) module). A corresponding one of these communication modules maycommunicate with the external electronic device via the first network198 (e.g., a short-range communication network, such as Bluetooth™wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA))or the second network 199 (e.g., a long-range communication network,such as a cellular network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g.,LAN or wide area network (WAN)). These various types of communicationmodules may be implemented as a single component (e.g., a single chip),or may be implemented as multi components (e.g., multi chips) separatefrom each other. The wireless communication module 192 may identify andauthenticate the electronic device 101 in a communication network, suchas the first network 198 or the second network 199, using subscriberinformation (e.g., international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI))stored in the subscriber identification module 196.

The antenna module 197 may transmit or receive a signal or power to orfrom the outside (e.g., the external electronic device) of theelectronic device 101. According to an embodiment, the antenna module197 may include an antenna including a radiating element composed of aconductive material or a conductive pattern formed in or on a substrate(e.g., PCB). According to an embodiment, the antenna module 197 mayinclude a plurality of antennas. In such a case, at least one antennaappropriate for a communication scheme used in the communicationnetwork, such as the first network 198 or the second network 199, may beselected, for example, by the communication module 190 (e.g., thewireless communication module 192) from the plurality of antennas. Thesignal or the power may then be transmitted or received between thecommunication module 190 and the external electronic device via theselected at least one antenna. According to an embodiment, anothercomponent (e.g., a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)) other thanthe radiating element may be additionally formed as part of the antennamodule 197.

At least some of the above-described components may be coupled mutuallyand communicate signals (e.g., commands or data) therebetween via aninter-peripheral communication scheme (e.g., a bus, general purposeinput and output (GPIO), serial peripheral interface (SPI), or mobileindustry processor interface (MIPI)).

According to an embodiment, commands or data may be transmitted orreceived between the electronic device 101 and the external electronicdevice 104 via the server 108 coupled with the second network 199. Eachof the electronic devices 102 and 104 may be a device of a same type as,or a different type, from the electronic device 101. According to anembodiment, all or some of operations to be executed at the electronicdevice 101 may be executed at one or more of the external electronicdevices 102, 104, or 108. For example, if the electronic device 101should perform a function or a service automatically, or in response toa request from a user or another device, the electronic device 101,instead of, or in addition to, executing the function or the service,may request the one or more external electronic devices to perform atleast part of the function or the service. The one or more externalelectronic devices receiving the request may perform the at least partof the function or the service requested, or an additional function oran additional service related to the request, and transfer an outcome ofthe performing to the electronic device 101. The electronic device 101may provide the outcome, with or without further processing of theoutcome, as at least part of a reply to the request. To that end, acloud computing, distributed computing, or client-server computingtechnology may be used, for example.

The electronic device according to various embodiments may be one ofvarious types of electronic devices. The electronic devices may include,for example, and without limitation, a portable communication device(e.g., a smartphone), a computer device, a portable multimedia device, aportable medical device, a camera, a wearable device, a home appliance,or the like. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, theelectronic devices are not limited to those described above.

It should be appreciated that various example embodiments of the presentdisclosure and the terms used therein are not intended to limit thetechnological features set forth herein to particular embodiments andinclude various changes, equivalents, or replacements for acorresponding embodiment. With regard to the description of thedrawings, similar reference numerals may be used to refer to similar orrelated elements. It is to be understood that a singular form of a nouncorresponding to an item may include one or more of the things, unlessthe relevant context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, eachof such phrases as “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” “at least one ofA or B,” “A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” and “at least oneof A, B, or C,” may include any one of, or all possible combinations ofthe items enumerated together in a corresponding one of the phrases. Asused herein, such terms as “1st” and “2nd,” or “first” and “second” maybe used to simply distinguish a corresponding component from another,and does not limit the components in other aspect (e.g., importance ororder). It is to be understood that if an element (e.g., a firstelement) is referred to, with or without the term “operatively” or“communicatively”, as “coupled with,” “coupled to,” “connected with,” or“connected to” another element (e.g., a second element), the element maybe coupled with the other element directly (e.g., wiredly), wirelessly,or via a third element.

As used herein, the term “module” may include a unit implemented inhardware, software, or firmware, or any combination thereof, and mayinterchangeably be used with other terms, for example, “logic,” “logicblock,” “part,” or “circuitry”. A module may be a single integralcomponent, or a minimum unit or part thereof, adapted to perform one ormore functions. For example, according to an embodiment, the module maybe implemented in a form of an application-specific integrated circuit(ASIC).

Various embodiments as set forth herein may be implemented as software(e.g., the program 140) including one or more instructions that arestored in a storage medium (e.g., internal memory 136 or external memory138) that is readable by a machine (e.g., the electronic device 101).For example, a processor (e.g., the processor 120) of the machine (e.g.,the electronic device 101) may invoke at least one of the one or moreinstructions stored in the storage medium, and execute it, with orwithout using one or more other components under the control of theprocessor. This allows the machine to be operated to perform at leastone function according to the at least one instruction invoked. The oneor more instructions may include a code generated by a complier or acode executable by an interpreter. The machine-readable storage mediummay be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Wherein,the “non-transitory” storage medium may refer to a tangible device, andmay not include a signal (e.g., an electromagnetic wave), but this termdoes not differentiate between where data is semi-permanently stored inthe storage medium and where the data is temporarily stored in thestorage medium.

According to an embodiment, a method according to various embodiments ofthe disclosure may be included and provided in a computer programproduct. The computer program product may be traded as a product betweena seller and a buyer. The computer program product may be distributed inthe form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc readonly memory (CD-ROM)), or be distributed (e.g., downloaded or uploaded)online via an application store (e.g., PlayStore™), or between two userdevices (e.g., smart phones) directly. If distributed online, at leastpart of the computer program product may be temporarily generated or atleast temporarily stored in the machine-readable storage medium, such asmemory of the manufacturer's server, a server of the application store,or a relay server.

According to various embodiments, each component (e.g., a module or aprogram) of the above-described components may include a single entityor multiple entities. According to various embodiments, one or more ofthe above-described components may be omitted, or one or more othercomponents may be added. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality ofcomponents (e.g., modules or programs) may be integrated into a singlecomponent. In such a case, according to various embodiments, theintegrated component may still perform one or more functions of each ofthe plurality of components in the same or similar manner as they areperformed by a corresponding one of the plurality of components beforethe integration. According to various embodiments, operations performedby the module, the program, or another component may be carried outsequentially, in parallel, repeatedly, or heuristically, or one or moreof the operations may be executed in a different order or omitted, orone or more other operations may be added.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example electronic deviceaccording to various embodiments. The functional structures of theelectronic device may be included in the electronic device 101 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2 , an electronic device 101 may include a processor(e.g., including processing circuitry) 120, a memory 130, a display unit(e.g., including a display) 160, a fingerprint sensor 210, and a touchsensor 220.

In various embodiments, the processor 120 may include various processingcircuitry including, for example, the processor 120 of FIG. 1 . Thememory 130 may include the memory 130 of FIG. 1 . The display unit 160may include the display unit 160 of FIG. 1 . The fingerprint sensor 210may be included in the sensor module 176 of FIG. 1 , and may include thefingerprint sensor embedded in the display unit 160. The touch sensor220 may include at least one of a touch circuit included in the displayunit 160 of FIG. 1 and a sensor circuit included in the display unit160.

In various embodiments, the processor 120 and the memory 130 may bedisposed inside a housing of the electronic device 101. In variousembodiments, the housing may be used to mount other components (e.g.,the display unit 160, the fingerprint sensor 210, and the touch sensor220) in the electronic device 101.

In various embodiments, the display unit 160 may be disposed inside thehousing. In various embodiments, the display unit 160 may be exposed orviewable through at least part of a first face of the housing of theelectronic device 101.

In various embodiments, the touch sensor 220 may be disposed inside thehousing. In various embodiments, the touch sensor 220 may be operativelycoupled with the display unit 160.

In various embodiments, at least part of the fingerprint sensor 210 maybe disposed below the display unit 160. In various embodiments, thefingerprint sensor 210 may be disposed within a display region of thedisplay unit 160, when viewed from above the display unit 160 exposed orviewable through the first face. For example, at least one of atransmitter of the fingerprint sensor 210 and a receiver of thefingerprint sensor 210 may be disposed within an interval betweenpatterns of light emitting elements in the display unit 160 or within aninterval between patterns of the touch sensor 220.

For example, referring to FIG. 3 , the fingerprint sensor 210 may bedisposed below the display unit 160 exposed or viewable through at leastpart of the housing 300 of the electronic device 101. In variousembodiments, although not shown in FIG. 3 , the transparent touch sensor220 may be operatively coupled with the display unit 160.

In various embodiments, the fingerprint sensor 210 may be operativelycoupled with the touch sensor 220. In various embodiments, thefingerprint sensor 210 may be physically connected with the touch sensor220. For example, the fingerprint sensor 210 may be connected with thetouch sensor 220 through an interface capable of transmitting andreceiving data.

In various embodiments, the fingerprint sensor 210 may recognize afingerprint based on various methods. For example, the fingerprintsensor 210 may be implemented with an ultrasonic fingerprint sensorwhich transmits an ultrasonic wave to recognize a fingerprint based on areflected wave for the transmitted ultrasonic wave. For another example,the fingerprint sensor 210 may also be implemented with an opticalfingerprint sensor which transmits light to recognize a fingerprintbased on reflected light for the transmitted light. For another example,the fingerprint sensor 210 may also be implemented with a capacitivefingerprint sensor which recognizes a fingerprint based on a capacitancechange. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto.

In various embodiments, the fingerprint sensor 210 may interwork withthe touch sensor 220 to obtain at least one fingerprint image for auser's finger contacted on the display unit 160 or obtain at least oneimage for calibrating the at least one fingerprint image.

For example, the fingerprint sensor 210 may receive from the processor120 a signal requesting the fingerprint sensor 210 to obtain at leastone fingerprint image in order to register a fingerprint. In variousembodiments, the processor 120 may receive a user input to register afingerprint for authentication, through a user interface displayed onthe display unit 160. In response to receiving the user input, theprocessor 120 may transmit to the fingerprint sensor 210 a signalrequesting the fingerprint sensor 210 to obtain the at least onefingerprint image.

In various embodiments, in response to receiving the signal from theprocessor 120, the fingerprint sensor 210 may identify whether a signalindicating detection of the touch input contacted on the display unit160 is received from the touch sensor 220. For example, the fingerprintsensor 210 may identify whether the signal for notifying that the touchinput is detected is received from the touch sensor 220 through theinterface between the touch sensor 220 and the fingerprint sensor 210.For the identification, in response to receiving the signal from theprocessor 120, the fingerprint sensor 210 may change or switch a stateof the fingerprint sensor 210 to a standby state for receiving thesignal indicating the detection of the touch input from the touch sensor220. In various embodiments, the fingerprint sensor 210 may maintain thestandby state until the touch input is received or may maintain thestandby state until a designated time elapses from a timing of theswitching. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto.

In various embodiments, the fingerprint sensor 210 may receive thesignal indicating the detection of the touch input from the touch sensor220. In response to receiving the signal from the touch sensor 220, thefingerprint sensor 210 may recognize that a user's finger is contactedon the display unit 160.

In various embodiments, in response to receiving the signal indicatingthe detection of the touch input from the touch sensor 220, thefingerprint sensor 210 may obtain at least one fingerprint image. Invarious embodiments, the at least one fingerprint image may be used toregister a fingerprint for user authentication. In various embodiments,the at least one fingerprint image may be obtained while the user'sfinger is contacted on the display unit 160. In various embodiments,since the obtaining of the at least one fingerprint image is performedwhile the user's finger is contacted on the display unit 160, the atleast one fingerprint image may have enhanced quality.

In various embodiments, the fingerprint sensor 210 may transmitinformation on the at least one fingerprint image to the processor 120,in order to register the fingerprint for user authentication. In variousembodiments, the processor 120 may receive the information on the atleast one fingerprint image from the fingerprint sensor 210.

In various embodiments, the memory 130 may store the application 230executed in a secure execution environment of the processor 120. Invarious embodiments, the secure execution environment may be distinctfrom a general execution environment configured in the processor 120. Invarious embodiments, the secure execution environment may have a highersecurity than the general execution environment. It should be noted thatthe general execution environment may have a lower security than thesecure execution environment and does not necessarily refer to anenvironment without a security setting. In various embodiments, theapplication 230 may be used to remove at least part of operations of theelectronic device for registering a fingerprint and operations of theelectronic device for calibrating an obtained fingerprint image torecognize the fingerprint. In various embodiments, the processor 120 mayrequest the application 230 executed in the secure execution environmentto obtain at least one fingerprint image for the fingerprintregistration, by accessing the memory 130 in response to receiving auser input for requesting to register the fingerprint. For example,based on the user input, the processor 120 may allocate at least onefirst core among multiple cores configuring the processor 120 to a corefor the secure execution environment, and may use at least one secondcore for the general execution environment among the multiple cores torequest the application executed by the at least one first core toobtain the at least one fingerprint image for the fingerprintregistration. In various embodiments, in response to the request, theapplication 230 may request the fingerprint sensor 210 to identifywhether the signal indicating the detection of the touch input isreceived from the touch sensor 220. In response to the request of theapplication 230, the fingerprint sensor 210 may identify whether thesignal indicating the detection of the touch input is received from thetouch sensor 220, and may obtain the at least one fingerprint image inresponse to receiving the signal from the touch sensor 220. Thefingerprint sensor 210 may provide information on the at least onefingerprint image to the application 230. For example, the fingerprintsensor 210 may provide the information on the at least one fingerprintimage to the application 230 through the at least one first core of theprocessor 120. The application 230 may register the at least onefingerprint image into a security region of the memory 130, in order touse the at least one fingerprint image as a reference fingerprint imagefor fingerprint recognition. In various embodiments, in response toreceiving information on the fingerprint image, the application 230 maynotify the processor 120 that the obtaining of the fingerprint image issuccessfully complete. The processor 120 may request the application 230executed in the secure execution environment to identify whether thetouch input is released, based on the notification from the application230. For example, the processor 120 may request the application 230executed by the at least one first core to identify whether the touchinput is released, using the at least one second core. In variousembodiments, the request may be provided to the application 230 from theprocessor 120 to finish operations for registering the fingerprint. Theapplication 230 may request the fingerprint sensor 210 to identifywhether the touch input is released, in response to the request from theprocessor 120. The fingerprint sensor 210 may identify whether a signalindicating the release of the touch input is received from the touchsensor 220, in response to the request from the application 230. Invarious embodiments, the fingerprint sensor 210 may notify theapplication 230 that the signal indicating the release of the touchinput is received from the touch sensor 220, in response to receivingthe signal indicating the release of the touch input or the release of acontact of the touch input from the touch sensor 220. For example, thefingerprint sensor 210 may notify the application 230 that the signalindicating the release of the touch input is received from the touchsensor 220 through the at least one first core. The application 230 maynotify the processor 120 that operations for the registration of thefingerprint are complete, based on the notification from the fingerprintsensor 210.

As described above, the electronic device 101 according to variousembodiments may obtain a fingerprint image for registering a fingerprintusing the fingerprint sensor 210 under the condition that the touchsensor 220 detects that a user's finger is contacted on the display unit160, thereby obtaining the fingerprint image having enhanced quality.

For another example, the fingerprint sensor 210 may obtain at least oneimage for calibrating the fingerprint image obtained through thefingerprint sensor 210, based on interworking with the touch sensor 220.In various embodiments, the fingerprint sensor 210 may obtain the atleast one image for the calibration, based on detecting that adesignated event occurs. In various embodiments, the at least one imagefor the calibration may imply an image requested to be obtained in astate where the user's finger is not included as an object. In variousembodiments, the at least one image for the calibration may imply animage obtained to tune the fingerprint sensor 210 for the calibration ofthe fingerprint image.

In various embodiments, the designated event may imply that atemperature measured by the electronic device 101 corresponds to atemperature associated with a value having a lower reliability than areference reliability among a plurality of values registered to thememory 130 for the calibration. For example, assume that the memory 130stores a value ‘a’ associated with about 10 degrees Celsius, a value ‘b’associated with about 20 degrees Celsius, and a value ‘c’ associatedwith about 30 degrees Celsius for the calibration, and the value ‘b’ hasa lower reliability than the value ‘a’ and the value ‘c’. Thefingerprint sensor 210 may determine that the at least one image for thecalibration is obtained to improve reliability of the value ‘b’, basedon identifying that a current temperature measured by the electronicdevice 101 corresponds to 20 degrees Celsius, and may obtain the atleast one image, based on the determination. However, the disclosure isnot limited thereto.

In various embodiments, the designated event may imply that a designatedtime elapses from a timing at which a directly previous calibration isperformed. For example, based on identifying that it has passed threedays (a designated time) after the directly previous calibration isperformed, the fingerprint sensor 210 may obtain the at least one imageto improve reliability of at least part of the plurality of values.However, the disclosure is not limited thereto.

In various embodiments, based on detecting the occurrence of the event,the fingerprint sensor 210 may notify the processor 120 that the atleast one image is obtained for the calibration. The processor 120 mayaccess the memory 130 in response to receiving the notification from thefingerprint sensor 210, and thus may request the application 230executed by the at least one first core allocated for the secureexecution environment to obtain the at least one image for thecalibration, using the at least one second core for the generalexecution environment. In response to the request from the processor120, the application 230 may request the processor 120 to wait for anoperation in the general execution environment for a designated time. Inresponse to the request from the processor 120, the application 230 mayrequest the processor 120 to identify whether a touch input is receivedwhile the fingerprint sensor 210 obtains the at least one image. Therequest from the application 230 may be provided to the fingerprintsensor 210 through the processor 120 (or the at least one second core ofthe processor 120). In response to the request from the application 230,the fingerprint sensor 210 may obtain the at least one image, and mayprovide information on the obtained at least one image to theapplication 230 for the calibration. For example, the fingerprint sensor210 may provide the information on the at least one image to theapplication 230 through the at least one first core of the processor120. The application 230 may improve reliability of at least part of theplurality of values, at least based on the information on the at leastone image. Based on identifying the improvement of the reliability of atleast part of the plurality of values, the application 230 may notifythe processor 120 (or the at least one second core of the processor 120)that the calibration is successfully complete. Based on the notificationfrom the application 230, the processor 120 may resume the ceasedoperation in the general execution environment.

According to an embodiment, the fingerprint sensor 210 may receive asignal indicating that the touch input is detected from the touch sensor220, while obtaining the at least one image. In response to receivingthe signal from the touch sensor 220, in order to cease the calibration,the fingerprint sensor 210 may cease to obtain the at least one image.In response to receiving the signal from the touch sensor 220, in orderto cease the calibration, the fingerprint sensor 210 may transmit thesignal indicating the detection of the touch input while obtaining theat least one image. In response to receiving the signal from thefingerprint sensor 210, the processor 120 may use the at least onesecond core to request, through the at least one first core, theapplication 230 to cease the calibration. The application 230 may ceasethe calibration, in response to the request from the processor 120.

The fingerprint sensor 210 may cease to obtain the at least one image,based on identifying that a value identified based on the at least oneimage is out of a reference range. For example, if a foreign material islocated on the fingerprint sensor 210, the value identified based on theat least one image may be out of the reference range. Since the at leastone image may cause an incorrect calibration or an unnecessarycalibration, the fingerprint sensor 210 may cease to obtain the at leastone image, based on the identification. Based on the identification, inorder to cease the calibration, the fingerprint sensor 210 according tovarious embodiments may transmit a signal for notifying the processor120 (e.g., the at least one second core) that the foreign material isdetected. In response to receiving the signal from the fingerprintsensor 210, the processor 120 may request the application 230 to ceasethe calibration. For example, in response to receiving the signal fromthe fingerprint sensor 210, the processor 120 may use the at least onesecond core to request, through the at least one first core, theapplication 230 to cease the calibration. In various embodiments, theapplication 230 may cease the calibration, in response to the requestfrom the processor 120.

As described above, the electronic device 101 according to variousembodiments may identify whether a touch input is received based onsignaling between the touch sensor 220 and the fingerprint sensor 210while obtaining at least one image for calibrating a fingerprint imageusing the fingerprint sensor 210. In response to detecting the touchinput while obtaining the at least one image using the fingerprintsensor 210, the electronic device 101 according to various embodimentsmay cease the calibration to prevent and/or reduce an unnecessarycalibration and/or an incorrect calibration from being performed. Inresponse to detecting the touch input while obtaining the at least oneimage using the fingerprint sensor 210, the electronic device 101according to various embodiments may cease the calibration to preventand/or reduce power from being consumed for the unnecessary or incorrectcalibration.

For another example, the fingerprint sensor 210 may obtain a fingerprintimage for recognition, based on interworking with the touch sensor 220.In various embodiments, after registering the fingerprint image as areference fingerprint image, the fingerprint sensor 210 may obtain afingerprint image to be recognized for user authentication. In variousembodiments, the fingerprint sensor 210 may receive from the processor120 a signal requesting to obtain the fingerprint image. In variousembodiments, the signal may be transmitted from the processor 120 to thefingerprint sensor 210, based on that the processor 120 detects adesignated event. In various embodiments, the designated event mayinclude detecting an execution of an application which requiresfingerprint recognition. In various embodiments, the designated eventmay include detecting a user's gesture for unlocking the electronicdevice 101. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto.

In various embodiments, in response to receiving the signal from theprocessor 120, the fingerprint sensor 210 may switch a state of thefingerprint sensor 210 to a standby state for identifying whether asignal indicating detection of a touch input is received from the touchsensor 220. In various embodiments, the standby state may be releasedafter being maintained for a designated time. In various embodiments,the standby state may also be maintained until the signal indicating thedetection of the touch input is received. The fingerprint sensor 210 mayreceive the signal indicating the detection of the touch input from thetouch sensor 220, while in the standby state. The fingerprint sensor 210may obtain the fingerprint image, in response to receiving the signalfrom the touch sensor 220. Since the receiving of the signal from thetouch sensor 220 may indicate that a user's finger is contacted on thedisplay unit 160, the fingerprint sensor 210 may obtain the fingerprintimage, in response to receiving the signal from the touch sensor 220.For example, in response to receiving the signal from the touch sensor220, the fingerprint sensor 210 may switch the standby state to anactive state for obtaining the fingerprint image, and may obtain thefingerprint image in response to the switching. In various embodiments,the fingerprint sensor 210 may transmit information on the fingerprintimage to the processor 120. For example, the fingerprint sensor 210 mayprovide the information on the fingerprint image to the application 230executed in the secure execution environment. The application 230 maycompare the fingerprint image received from the fingerprint sensor 210with a reference fingerprint image registered to the electronic device101, and may identify whether to authenticate a user who provides thefingerprint image, based on the comparison result.

The fingerprint sensor 210 may switch the active state to the standbystate, in response to transmitting the information on the fingerprintimage. For example, the standby state may imply a state for identifyingwhether a signal indicating the release of the touch input is receivedfrom the touch sensor 220. While in the standby state for identifyingwhether the signal indicating the release of the touch input is receivedfrom the touch sensor 220, the fingerprint sensor 210 may transmit thesignal indicating the release of the touch input to the processor 120,in response to receiving a signal for notifying the release of the touchinput from the touch sensor 220. The processor 120 may notify theapplication 230 of the release of the touch input. The application 230may end the operation for fingerprint recognition, based on thenotification from the processor 120. Meanwhile, after the fingerprintsensor 210 transmits to the processor 120 the signal for notifying therelease of the touch input, the state of the fingerprint sensor 210 maybe switched to an inactive state. In various embodiments, the inactivestate may imply a state where a function of the fingerprint sensor 210is partially (or entirely) deactivated to decrease power consumption.

As described above, the electronic device 101 according to variousembodiments may obtain a fingerprint image for recognition, based oninterworking between the touch sensor 220 and the fingerprint sensor210, thereby obtaining the fingerprint image having enhanced quality.The electronic device 101 according to various embodiments may use theoperation of obtaining the fingerprint image to prevent and/or reduce anoccurrence of a situation in which a fingerprint of an authenticateduser from being incorrectly recognized.

An electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 101) according tovarious example embodiments described above may include a display (e.g.,the display unit 160), a touch sensor (e.g., the fingerprint sensor 210)operatively coupled with the display, and a fingerprint sensor (e.g.,the touch sensor 220) disposed below the display and operatively coupledwith the touch sensor. The fingerprint sensor may be configured toobtain at least one image for calibrating a fingerprint image, receive asignal indicating detection of a touch input from the touch sensor whileobtaining the at least one image, and cease to obtain the at least oneimage, based on the reception of the signal.

In various example embodiments, the electronic device may furtherinclude at least one processor (e.g., the processor 120). Thefingerprint sensor may be configured to cease to obtain the at least oneimage by transmitting a different signal indicating reception of thesignal to the at least one processor, in response to the reception ofthe signal. In various example embodiments, the electronic device mayfurther include a memory (e.g., the memory 130) configured to store anapplication (e.g., the application 230) executed in a secure executionenvironment of the at least one processor. The at least one processormay be configured to request the application executed in the secureexecution environment to cease the calibration by accessing the memory,in response to receiving the different signal.

In various example embodiments, the fingerprint sensor may be furtherconfigured to cease to obtain the at least one image, based onidentifying that a value identified based on the at least one image isout of a reference range.

In various example embodiments, the fingerprint sensor may be furtherconfigured to include a memory (e.g., the memory 130) configured tostore a plurality of values used for the calibration of the fingerprintimage and associated with a plurality of temperatures, identify that ameasure temperature corresponds to a temperature associated with a valuehaving a lower reliability than a reference reliability among theplurality of temperatures, and obtain the at least one image, based onthe identification. In various example embodiments, the electronicdevice may further include at least one processor, and a memoryconfigured to store an application executed in a secure executionenvironment of the at least one processor. The fingerprint sensor may beconfigured to transmit to the at least one processor a signal indicatingthat the calibration is required, in response to the identification. Theat least one processor may be configured to request the application toinitiate the calibration by accessing the memory, in response toreceiving the signal indicating that the calibration is required, andrequest the fingerprint sensor to monitor whether the signal indicatingthe detection of the touch input is received from the touch sensor, inresponse to obtaining the response for the request from the application.The fingerprint sensor may be further configured to monitor whether thesignal indicating the detection of the touch input is received from thetouch sensor while the at least one image is obtained, in response tothe request from the at least one processor.

In various example embodiments, the fingerprint sensor may be configuredto identify that a designated time elapses from a timing at which adirectly previous calibration is performed, and obtain the at least oneimage, based on the identification.

An electronic device according to various example embodiments describedabove may include a display, a fingerprint sensor disposed below thedisplay, a touch sensor operatively coupled with the display and thefingerprint sensor, and at least one processor. The fingerprint sensormay be configured to receive from the at least one processor a signalrequesting the fingerprint sensor to obtain the at least one fingerprintimage to register a fingerprint or to recognize the fingerprint,identify whether the signal indicating detection of a touch input isreceived from the touch sensor, in response to receiving the signalrequesting to obtain the at least one fingerprint image, obtain the atleast one fingerprint image, in response to receiving the signalindicating the detection of the touch input from the touch sensor, andtransmit information on the at least one fingerprint image for theregistration or recognition of the fingerprint to the at least oneprocessor, in response to the obtaining. In various example embodiments,the fingerprint sensor may be configured to receive a signal indicatingthat the touch input is released from the touch sensor, aftertransmitting the information on the at least one fingerprint image, andtransmit the signal indicating that the touch input is released to theat least one processor, in response to receiving the signal indicatingthat the touch input is released. In various example embodiments, thefingerprint sensor may be configured to switch a state of thefingerprint sensor to a standby state for identifying whether the signalindicating the detection of the touch input is received from the touchsensor, in response to receiving the signal requesting to obtain the atleast one fingerprint image, switch the standby state to an active statefor obtaining the at least one fingerprint image, in response toreceiving the signal indicating the detection of the touch input fromthe touch sensor, obtain the at least one fingerprint image, in responseto the switching, and switch the active state to the standby state foridentifying whether the signal indicating that the touch input isreleased is received, after obtaining the at least one fingerprintimage.

In various example embodiments, the electronic device may furtherinclude a memory configured to store an application executed in a secureexecution environment of the at least one processor. The at least oneprocessor may be configured to request the application executed in thesecure execution environment by accessing the memory to obtain the atleast one fingerprint image in order to register the fingerprint image,in response to receiving a user input for requesting to register thefingerprint, and transmit to the fingerprint sensor the signalrequesting to obtain the at least one fingerprint image, using theapplication which receives the request. In various example embodiments,the application may be configured to notify the at least one processorof a signal indicating that the fingerprint image is successfullyobtained, based on receiving information on the at least one fingerprintimage. In various example embodiments, the fingerprint sensor may beconfigured to receive a signal indicating that the touch input isreleased from the touch sensor, after transmitting the information onthe at least one fingerprint image, and transmit the signal indicatingthat the touch input is released to the at least one processor, inresponse to receiving the signal indicating that the touch input isreleased. The at least one processor may be further configured toreceive a signal indicating that the touch input is released from thefingerprint sensor using the application, and identify that theregistering of the fingerprint is successfully complete using theapplication, based on receiving the signal indicating that the touchinput is released from the fingerprint sensor.

In various example embodiments, the fingerprint sensor may be furtherconfigured to receive a signal indicating that the touch input isreleased from the touch sensor, after transmitting the information onthe at least one fingerprint image, transmit the signal indicating thatthe touch input is released to the at least one processor, in responseto receiving the signal indicating that the touch input is released, andswitch a state of the fingerprint sensor to an inactive state, based onthe transmission.

An electronic device according to various example embodiments describedabove may include a display, a fingerprint sensor disposed below thedisplay, a touch sensor operatively coupled with the fingerprint sensorand the display, and at least one processor. The fingerprint sensor maybe configured to receive a signal requesting the fingerprint sensor toobtain a fingerprint image from the at least one processor while in aninactive state, switch a state of the fingerprint sensor to a standbystate for identifying whether a signal indicating detection of a touchinput is received from the touch sensor, in response to receiving thesignal requesting to obtain the at least one fingerprint image, switchthe standby state to an active state, in response to receiving thesignal indicating the detection of the touch input from the touch sensorwhile in the standby state, obtain the fingerprint image, in response tothe switching, and transmit information on the fingerprint image to theat least one processor, in response to the obtaining. In various exampleembodiments, the electronic device may further include a memoryconfigured to store an application executed in a secure executionenvironment of the at least one processor. The at least one processormay be configured to receive information on the fingerprint image usingthe application, compare the fingerprint image with a referencefingerprint image registered in the electronic device using theapplication, and identify whether to authenticate a user who providesthe fingerprint image, based on the comparison result.

In various example embodiments, the fingerprint sensor may be furtherconfigured to switch the active state to a standby state for identifyingwhether a signal indicating that the touch input is released from thetouch sensor, based on transmitting the information on the fingerprintimage. In various example embodiments, the fingerprint sensor may befurther configured to receive the signal indicating that the touch inputis released from the touch sensor, while in the standby state foridentifying whether the signal indicating the release of the touch inputis received from the touch sensor, and based on receiving the signalindicating that the touch input is released from the touch sensor,switch the standby state for identifying whether the signal is receivedfrom the touch sensor to the inactive state. In various exampleembodiments, the fingerprint sensor may be configured to transmit to theat least one processor the signal indicating that the touch input isreleased, in response to receiving the signal indicating that the touchinput is released from the touch sensor, and after transmitting thesignal indicating that the touch input is released, switch the standbystate for identifying whether the signal is received from the touchsensor to the inactive state.

In various example embodiments, the fingerprint sensor may be physicallyconnected with the touch sensor.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example operation of an electronicdevice according to various embodiments. This operation may be performedby the fingerprint sensor of FIG. 1 or the fingerprint sensor 210 ofFIG. 2 .

Referring to FIG. 4 , in operation 410, the fingerprint sensor 210 mayreceive from the processor 120 a signal requesting the fingerprintsensor 210 to obtain at least one fingerprint image. For example, thefingerprint sensor 210 may receive from the processor 120 the signalrequesting the fingerprint sensor 210 to obtain the at least onefingerprint image in order to register the fingerprint. For example, thesignal may be transmitted from the processor 120 to the fingerprintsensor 210, in response to detecting a user input for registering thefingerprint in the processor 120. For another example, the fingerprintsensor 210 may receive from the processor 120 the signal requesting thefingerprint sensor 210 to obtain at least one fingerprint image, inorder to recognize the fingerprint. For example, the signal may betransmitted from the processor 120 to the fingerprint sensor 210, basedon an event caused while an application (e.g., a payment application) isexecuted to request for user authentication through a fingerprint in theprocessor 120.

In operation 420, in response to receiving the signal from the processor120, the fingerprint sensor 210 may identify whether a signal indicatingthe detection of the touch input is received from the touch sensor 220.For example, the fingerprint sensor 210 may be in a standby state untilthe signal indicating the detection of the touch input is received fromthe touch sensor 220. The fingerprint sensor 210 may wait until thesignal indicating the detection of the touch input is received from thetouch sensor 220, in order to obtain a fingerprint image in a statewhere a finger is in proximity to the display unit 160.

In operation 430, the fingerprint sensor 210 may obtain the at least oneimage, in response to receiving the signal indicating the detection ofthe touch input from the touch sensor 220 (“Yes” in operation 420). Invarious embodiments, since the fingerprint sensor 210 may obtain atleast one fingerprint image in response to receiving the signalindicating the detection of the touch input from the touch sensor 220,the at least one image may be obtained in a state where the user'sfinger is contacted on the display unit 160.

In operation 440, the fingerprint sensor 210 may transmit information onthe at least one fingerprint image to the processor 120, in response toobtaining the at least one image. For example, the fingerprint sensor210 may provide the information on the at least one fingerprint image tothe processor 120, in order to register the fingerprint. For anotherexample, the fingerprint sensor 210 may provide the information on theat least one fingerprint image to the processor 120, in order torecognize the fingerprint.

As described above, the electronic device 101 according to variousembodiments may obtain a fingerprint image for registering a fingerprint(or a fingerprint image for recognizing a fingerprint) using thefingerprint sensor 210, while the user's finger is contacted on thedisplay unit 160.

FIG. 5 is a signal flow diagram illustrating example operations forregistering a fingerprint by components in an electronic deviceaccording to various embodiments. These operations may be performed byat least one of the processor 120 of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 , the fingerprintsensor 210 of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 , and the touch sensor 220 of FIG. 1 orFIG. 2 .

In FIG. 5 , operations illustrated and described as being performed bythe application 230 may imply operations executed by the at least onefirst core for the secure execution environment among multiple cores ofthe processor 120. In addition, in FIG. 5 , an information exchange ofthe processor 120 and the application 230 may imply an informationexchange between the at least one second core for the general executionenvironment and the at least one first core for the secure executionenvironment. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 5 , in operation 501, the processor 120 may requestthe application 230 to obtain at least one fingerprint image to registera fingerprint. For example, for the application 230 to be executed inthe secure execution environment, the processor 120 may allocate atleast one first core as a core for the secure execution environmentamong multiple cores of the processor 120, and may use at least onesecond core for the general execution environment to request, throughthe at least one first core, the application 230 to obtain the at leastone fingerprint image in order to register the fingerprint. In otherwords, by accessing the memory 130, the processor 120 may request theapplication 230 executed in the secure execution environment to obtainthe at least one fingerprint image in order to register the fingerprint.

In operation 503, the application 230 may request the fingerprint sensor210 to obtain the at least one fingerprint image. In variousembodiments, the application 230 may command the fingerprint sensor 210to wait until the touch input is received through the request to thefingerprint sensor 210, in order to obtain the at least one fingerprintimage. The fingerprint sensor 210 may receive the request from theapplication 230. Based on the request, the fingerprint sensor 210 may bein a standby state for identifying whether the signal indicating thedetection of the touch input is received from the touch sensor 220. Invarious embodiments, the standby state may be maintained for adesignated time, or may be maintained until the signal is received fromthe touch sensor 220.

In operation 505, in response to detecting the touch input on thedisplay unit 160, the touch sensor 220 may transmit the signalindicating the detection of the touch input to the fingerprint sensor210. In various embodiments, the signal may be transmitted from thetouch sensor 220 to the fingerprint sensor 210 through an interfacebetween the touch sensor 220 and the fingerprint sensor 210. Thefingerprint sensor 210 may receive the signal from the touch sensor 220while in the standby state.

In operation 507, in response to receiving the signal indicatingdetection of the touch input, the fingerprint sensor 210 may obtain theat least one fingerprint image. For example, the fingerprint sensor 210may obtain the at least one fingerprint image in order to register thefingerprint. In various embodiments, the at least one fingerprint imagemay be obtained while a user's finger is contacted on the display unit160.

In operation 509, in response to the obtaining, the fingerprint sensor210 may transmit information on the at least one fingerprint image tothe application 230. For example, in response to the obtaining, thefingerprint sensor 210 may transmit information on the at least onefingerprint image to the application 230 through the at least one firstcore. The application 230 may receive the information on the at leastone fingerprint image.

In operation 511, the application 230 may recognize that the at leastone fingerprint image relates to a fingerprint, and in response to therecognition, may report (e.g., notify) to the processor 120 (e.g., theat least one second core of the processor 120) that information on thefingerprint image is received. For example, the application 230 mayreport to a general execution environment, which is distinct from thesecure execution environment, that the information on the fingerprintimage is received.

In operation 513, the processor 120 may request the application 230 toidentify whether the touch input is released. For example, the processor120 may request the application 230 to identify whether the touch inputis released, through the at least one first core using the at least onesecond core. In various embodiments, in order to identify whetherprocedures for registering the fingerprint are complete, the processor120 may request the application 230 to identify whether the touch inputis released. In various embodiments, the application 230 may receive therequest from the processor 120.

In operation 515, in response to the request from the processor 120, theapplication 230 may request the fingerprint sensor 210 to identifywhether the touch input is released. The fingerprint sensor 210 mayreceive the request from the application 230 through the at least onefirst core. Based on receiving the request from the application 230, thefingerprint sensor 210 may be in a standby state for identifying whetherthe touch input is released. For example, the fingerprint sensor 210 maybe in the standby state until the signal indicating the release of thetouch input is received from the touch sensor 220.

In operation 517, the touch sensor 220 may transmit to the fingerprintsensor 210 the signal indicating the release of the touch input, whilethe fingerprint sensor 210 is in the standby state. For example, inresponse to identifying that a user's finger is separated from thedisplay unit 160, the touch sensor 220 may transmit to the fingerprintsensor 210 the signal indicating the release of the touch input. Thefingerprint sensor 210 may receive from the touch sensor 220 the signalindicating the release of the touch input.

In operation 519, the fingerprint sensor 210 may notify the application230 that the touch input is released. For example, the fingerprintsensor 210 may notify the application 230 of the release of the touchinput through the at least one first core. For example, the fingerprintsensor 210 may notify the application 230 of the release of the touchinput, in order to complete operations for registering the fingerprint.The application 230 may receive the notification from the fingerprintsensor 210.

In operation 521, the application 230 may notify the processor 120 thatthe touch input is released, in order to notify the general executionenvironment that operations for registering the fingerprint aresuccessfully complete. For example, the application 230 may notify theat least one second core for the general execution environment that thetouch input is released, through the at least one first core. Theprocessor 120 may receive the notification from the application 230. Inresponse to the reception, the processor 120 may identify that theoperations for registering the fingerprint are complete, and may switcha screen displayed on the display unit 160 to register the fingerprintto another screen, based on the identification. However, the disclosureis not limited thereto.

As described above, the electronic device 101 according to variousembodiments may obtain the fingerprint image for registering thefingerprint using the fingerprint sensor 210 disposed below the displayunit 160, under the condition that the touch input is obtained using thetouch sensor 220. Through the obtaining of the fingerprint image, theelectronic device 101 according to various embodiments may enhance theoperations for recognizing the fingerprint.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example operation of theelectronic device 101 according to various embodiments. This operationmay be performed by the fingerprint sensor of FIG. 1 or the fingerprintsensor 210 of FIG. 2 .

Referring to FIG. 6 , in operation 601, the fingerprint sensor 210 mayobtain at least one image for calibrating a fingerprint image. Forexample, the fingerprint sensor 210 may obtain at least one image forcalibrating the fingerprint image, in response to detecting that adesignated event occurs in the electronic device 101. In variousembodiments, the designated event may include detecting in theelectronic device 101 that it is directly before performing fingerprintrecognition (e.g., an application requiring fingerprint recognition isexecuted in the electronic device 101, entering a menu for setting afingerprint is detected in the electronic device 101). An example of thedesignated event detected by the fingerprint sensor 210 will bedescribed below with reference to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 .

In various embodiments, the at least one image may imply an imagerequired to be obtained in a state of not including an external objectsuch as a user's finger, a foreign material, or the like. In variousembodiments, the at least one image may imply an image for configuringat least one value for tuning of the fingerprint sensor 210. In variousembodiments, the at least one value may be registered or stored in thememory 130 as respectively associated with at least one temperature.

In operation 603, while obtaining the at least one image, thefingerprint sensor 210 may identify whether a signal indicatingdetection of a touch input is received from the touch sensor 220. Thedetecting of the touch input may imply that the external object isincluded in the at least one image. Therefore, the fingerprint sensor210 may identify whether the signal indicating the detection of thetouch input is received from the touch sensor 220, while obtaining theat least one image. The fingerprint sensor 210 may maintain theidentification, while obtaining the at least one image.

In operation 605, while obtaining the at least one fingerprint image, inresponse to receiving the signal indicating the detection of the touchinput, the fingerprint sensor 210 may cease to obtain the at least oneimage. The detection of the touch input implies that the external object(e.g., a finger contacted on the display unit 160) is included in the atleast one image. Therefore, in response to receiving the signal from thetouch sensor 220, the fingerprint sensor 210 may cease to obtain the atleast one image to cease the calibration.

In operation 607, in response to not receiving the touch input whileobtaining the at least one image, the fingerprint sensor 210 maytransmit information on the at least one image to the processor 120. Forexample, in response to not receiving the signal indicating thedetection of the touch input while obtaining the at least one image, thefingerprint sensor 210 may transmit information on the at least oneimage to the application 230 through the at least one first core.

As described above, based on receiving the touch input while performingthe calibration for tuning of the fingerprint sensor 210, the electronicdevice 101 according to various embodiments may cease the calibration,thereby preventing and/or reducing the calibration from being performedunnecessarily or incorrectly. The electronic device 101 according tovarious embodiments may cease the calibration to prevent and/or reducethe calibration from being performed unnecessarily or incorrectly,thereby preventing and/or reducing power from being unnecessarilyconsumed in the electronic device 101.

FIG. 7 is a signal flow diagram illustrating example operations forcalibrating a fingerprint image by components in an electronic device ina state where no touch input is received according to variousembodiments. These operations may be performed by at least one of theprocessor 120 of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 , the fingerprint sensor 210 of FIG. 1or FIG. 2 , or the touch sensor 220 of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 .

In FIG. 7 , operations illustrated and described as being performed bythe application 230 may imply operations executed by the at least onefirst core for the secure execution environment among multiple cores ofthe processor 120. In addition, in FIG. 7 , operations illustrated anddescribed as being performed by the application 230 may imply operationsexecuted by the at least one first core for the secure executionenvironment among the multiple cores of the processor 120.

Referring to FIG. 7 , in operation 701, the fingerprint sensor 210 maytransmit to the processor 120 a signal indicating that a calibration ofa fingerprint image is required. For example, the fingerprint sensor 210may transmit to the at least one second core of the processor 120 thesignal indicating that the calibration of the fingerprint image isrequired. The processor 120 may receive the signal from the fingerprintsensor 210.

In operation 703, the processor 120 may provide the application 230executed in the secure execution environment with the signal indicatingthat the calibration is required, by accessing the memory 130. Invarious embodiments, the processor 120 may provide the application withthe signal indicating that the calibration is required, through the atleast one first core, using the at least one second core. Theapplication 230 may receive the signal indicating that the calibrationis required. In various embodiments, the application 230 may identifythat the calibration is initiated, based on the signal.

In operation 705, the application 230 may request the processor 120 towait, based on receiving the signal. For example, for the calibration,the application 230 may request the processor 120 to cease the drivingin a general execution environment for a designated time. In variousembodiments, based on receiving the signal, the application 230 mayrequest to wait for at least one operation executed by the at least onesecond core using the at least one first core. The processor 120 mayreceive the request from the application 230.

In operation 707, in response to receiving the request, the processor120 may request the fingerprint sensor 210 to identify whether a touchinput is detected. For example, based on receiving the request, theprocessor 120 may request the fingerprint sensor 210 to identify whetherthe touch input is detected, before switching a state of the processor120 to a standby state. The fingerprint sensor 210 may receive therequest from the processor 120.

In operation 709, in response to receiving the request, the fingerprintsensor 210 may obtain at least one image for the calibration. In theexample of FIG. 7 , the fingerprint sensor 210 may obtain the at leastone image required for the calibration, in a state where the signalindicating the detection of the touch input is not received from thetouch sensor 220.

In operation 711, the fingerprint sensor 210 may transmit information onthe at least one image to the application 230. For example, thefingerprint sensor 210 may provide the information on the at least oneimage to the at least one first core, thereby transmitting theinformation on the at least one image to the application 230. Theapplication 230 may receive the information on the at least one imagefrom the fingerprint sensor 210.

In operation 713, the application 230 may notify the fingerprint sensor210 that the information on the at least one image is successfullyreceived. In various embodiments, in order to indicate that anadditional image is unnecessary for the calibration, the application 230may notify the fingerprint sensor 210 through the at least one firstcore that the information on the at least one image is successfullyreceived.

In operation 715, the application 230 may perform the tuning of thefingerprint sensor 210, at least based on the information on the atleast one image.

In operation 717, after performing the tuning, the application 230 maynotify the processor 120 that the calibration is complete. For example,the application 230 may notify the at least one second core that thecalibration is complete through the at least one first core, therebynotifying the general execution environment that the calibration iscomplete. In order to complete the calibration, the application 230 mayperform the notification to the processor 120.

FIG. 8 is a signal flow diagram illustrating example operations forcalibrating a fingerprint image by components in an electronic device ina state where a touch input is received according to variousembodiments. These operations may be performed by at least one of theprocessor 120 of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 , the fingerprint sensor 210 of FIG. 1or FIG. 2 , or the touch sensor 220 of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 .

In FIG. 8 , operations illustrated and described as being performed bythe application 230 may imply operations executed by the at least onefirst core for the secure execution environment among multiple cores ofthe processor 120. In addition, in FIG. 8 , an information exchange ofthe processor 120 and the application 230 may imply an informationexchange between the at least one second core for the general executionenvironment and the at least one first core for the secure executionenvironment.

Referring to FIG. 8 , in operation 801, the fingerprint sensor 210 maytransmit to the processor 120 a signal indicating that a calibration ofa fingerprint image is required. For example, the fingerprint sensor 210may transmit to the at least one first core the signal indicating thatthe calibration of the fingerprint image is required. The processor 120may receive the signal from the fingerprint sensor 210.

In operation 803, the processor 120 may provide the application 230executed in the secure execution environment with the signal indicatingthat the calibration is required, by accessing the memory 130. Theoperation 803 may correspond to the operation 703 of FIG. 7 .

In operation 805, the application 230 may request the processor 120 towait, based on receiving the signal. The operation 805 may correspond tothe operation 705 of FIG. 7 .

In operation 807, in response to receiving the request, the processor120 may request the fingerprint sensor 210 to identify whether a touchinput is detected. The operation 807 may correspond to the operation 707of FIG. 7 .

In operation 809, in response to receiving the request, the fingerprintsensor 210 may obtain at least one image for the calibration.

In operation 811, while obtaining the at least one fingerprint image,the fingerprint sensor 210 may receive the signal indicating thedetection of the touch input from the touch sensor 220. For example,based on detecting that a fingerprint is contacted on the display unit160, the touch sensor 220 may transmit a signal indicating the detectionof the touch input from the touch sensor 220 while the fingerprintsensor 210 obtains the at least one fingerprint image.

In operation 813, in response to receiving the signal from the touchsensor 220, the fingerprint sensor 210 may cease to obtain the at leastone image. Since the at least one image is required not to include anexternal object for the calibration, the fingerprint sensor 210 maycease to obtain the at least one image, in response to receiving thesignal from the touch sensor 220, in order to prevent and/or reduce anunnecessary or incorrect calibration.

In operation 815, based on that the obtaining of the at least one imageis ceased, the fingerprint sensor 210 may notify the processor 120 thatthe touch input is detected. For example, in order to cease thecalibration, the fingerprint sensor 210 may notify the processor 120that the touch input is detected. The processor 120 may receive thenotification from the fingerprint sensor 210. For example, the processor120 may receive the notification from the fingerprint sensor 210 throughthe at least one second core.

In operation 817, in response to receiving the notification, theprocessor 120 may notify the application 230 that the calibration is tobe ceased. For example, the processor 120 may use the at least onesecond core to notify the application 230 that the calibration is to beceased through the at least one first core. For example, in response toreceiving the notification, the processor 120 may notify the application230 that the calibration is to be ceased, in order to prevent and/orreduce the application 230 from performing an unnecessary or incorrectcalibration.

As described above, based on detecting that an external object iscontacted on the display unit 160, the electronic device 101 accordingto various embodiments may cease to obtain the at least one image forcalibrating the fingerprint image using the fingerprint sensor 210,thereby improving resource efficiency.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example operation of a fingerprintsensor of an electronic device which ceases to obtain an image accordingto various embodiments. This operation may be performed by thefingerprint sensor of FIG. 1 or the fingerprint sensor 210 of FIG. 2 .

Referring to FIG. 9 , in operation 901, the fingerprint sensor 210 mayobtain at least one image for calibrating a fingerprint image. Theoperation 901 may correspond to the operation 601 of FIG. 6 .

In operation 903, the fingerprint sensor 210 may identify whether asignal indicating the detection of the touch input is received from thetouch sensor 220 while obtaining the at least one image. The operation903 may correspond to the operation 603 of FIG. 6 .

In operation 905, the fingerprint sensor 210 may identify whether avalue identified based on an image obtained in a state where the signalindicating the detection of the touch input is not received from thetouch sensor 220 is out of a reference range. For example, in order toidentify whether a foreign material is included in the at least oneimage, the fingerprint sensor 210 may identify whether the valueidentified based on the image obtained in the state where the signalindicating the detection of the touch input is not received from thetouch sensor 220 is out of the reference range. If the value is withinthe reference range, the fingerprint sensor 210 may perform operation909. If the value is out of the reference range, the fingerprint sensor210 may perform operation 907.

In operation 907, the fingerprint sensor 210 may cease to obtain the atleast one image, based on identifying that the value identified based onthe image obtained in the state where the signal indicating thedetection of the touch input is received from the touch sensor 220 orthe signal is not received from the touch sensor 220 is out of thereference range.

In operation 909, based on identifying that the value is within thereference range, the fingerprint sensor 210 may transmit information onthe at least one image to the processor 120. For example, in response toidentifying that the signal indicating the detection of the touch inputis not received while obtaining the at least one image and that thevalue identified based on the obtained image is within the referencerange, the fingerprint sensor 210 may transmit the information on the atleast one image to the application 230 through the at least one firstcore of the processor 120.

As described above, the electronic device 101 according to variousembodiments may check whether an image obtained in parallel withreceiving of the information on the touch input from the touch sensor220 is an image suitable for calibration, thereby preventing and/orreducing the calibration from being performed unnecessarily orincorrectly.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example operation of afingerprint sensor of an electronic device which performs triggering toobtain at least one image for calibrating a fingerprint image accordingto various embodiments. This operation may be performed by thefingerprint sensor of FIG. 1 or the fingerprint sensor 210 of FIG. 2.

Operations 1001 and 1003 of FIG. 10 may be associated with the operation601 of FIG. 6 .

Referring to FIG. 10 , in operation 1001, the fingerprint sensor 210 mayidentify whether a temperature (or a current temperature) measured bythe electronic device 101 corresponds to a temperature associated with avalue having a lower reliability than a reference reliability. Forexample, the memory 130 may store a plurality of values used to tune thefingerprint sensor 210. In various embodiments, the plurality of valuesmay be stored as respectively associated with a plurality oftemperatures. The fingerprint sensor 210 may identify whether thetemperature measured by the electronic device 101 corresponds to a valuehaving a lower reliability than the reference reliability or othervalues. Upon identifying that the temperature measured by the electronicdevice 101 does not correspond to the temperature associated with thevalue having the lower reliability than the reference reliability, thefingerprint sensor 210 may periodically perform operation 1001.Otherwise, upon identifying that the temperature measured by theelectronic device 101 corresponds to the temperature associated with thevalue having the lower reliability than the reference reliability, thefingerprint sensor 210 may perform operation 1003.

In operation 1003, based on identifying that the temperature measured bythe electronic device 101 corresponds to the temperature associated withthe value having the lower reliability than the reference reliability,the fingerprint sensor 210 may obtain the at least one image forcalibrating the fingerprint image.

As described above, the fingerprint sensor 210 of the electronic device101 according to various embodiments may calibrate a value having a lowreliability among values used to tune the fingerprint sensor 210,thereby improving a fingerprint recognition rate.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example operation of afingerprint sensor of an electronic device which performs triggering toobtain at least one image for calibrating a fingerprint image accordingto various embodiments. This operation may be performed by thefingerprint sensor of FIG. 1 or the fingerprint sensor 210 of FIG. 2 .

Operations 1101 and 1103 of FIG. 11 may be associated with the operation601 of FIG. 6 .

Referring to FIG. 11 , in operation 1101, the fingerprint sensor 210 mayidentify whether a designated time elapses from a timing at which adirectly previous calibration is performed. For example, in order toimprove reliability of the calibration or to match an operation of thefingerprint sensor 210 to a recent environment related to the electronicdevice 101, the fingerprint sensor 210 may identify whether a designatedtime elapses from a timing at which the directly previous calibration isperformed. The fingerprint sensor 210 may periodically perform theoperation 1101, based on identifying that the designated time does notelapse from the timing at which the directly previous calibration isperformed. The fingerprint sensor 210 may perform operation 1103, basedon identifying that the designated time elapses from the timing at whichthe directly previous calibration is performed.

In operation 1103, the fingerprint sensor 210 may obtain the at leastone image for calibrating the fingerprint image, based on identifyingthat the designated time elapses from a timing at which the directlyprevious calibration is performed.

As described above, the fingerprint sensor 210 of the electronic device101 according to various embodiments may periodically update a state ofvalues used for tuning of the fingerprint sensor 210, thereby improvinga fingerprint recognition rate.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example operation of anelectronic device according to various embodiments.

This operation may be performed by the fingerprint sensor of FIG. 1 orthe fingerprint sensor 210 of FIG. 2 .

Referring to FIG. 12 , in operation 1201, the fingerprint sensor 210 mayreceive from the processor 120 a signal requesting the fingerprintsensor 210 to obtain a fingerprint image. For example, in response todetecting that an application requiring fingerprint recognition isexecuted or a user grips the electronic device 101 in a locking state,the processor 120 may transmit to the fingerprint sensor 210 the signalrequesting to obtain the fingerprint image.

In operation 1203, in response to receiving the signal from theprocessor 210, the fingerprint sensor 210 may switch the state of thefingerprint sensor 210 to the standby state. The fingerprint sensor 210may be in an inactive state before receiving the signal, in order toreduce power consumed by an operation of the fingerprint sensor 210.While in the inactive state, in response to receiving the signal fromthe processor 210, the fingerprint sensor 210 may switch the state ofthe fingerprint sensor 210 to the standby state to identify whether thetouch input is detected.

In operation 1205, the fingerprint senor 210 may identify whether thesignal indicating the detection of the touch input is received from thetouch sensor, while in the standby state. If the signal is not receivedfrom the touch sensor 220, the fingerprint sensor 210 may maintain theidentification. If the signal is received from the touch sensor 220, thefingerprint sensor 210 may perform operation 1207.

In operation 1207, in response to receiving the signal from the touchsensor 220, the fingerprint sensor 210 may switch the state of thefingerprint sensor 210 to an active state for obtaining the fingerprintimage.

In operation 1209, the fingerprint sensor 210 may obtain the fingerprintimage, in response to the switching to the active state.

In operation 1211, the fingerprint sensor 210 may transmit informationon the fingerprint image to the processor 120, in order to recognize theobtained fingerprint image or to use the obtained fingerprint image forauthentication. The information on the fingerprint image may be providedto the application 230 executed in the secure execution environment.

As described above, the electronic device 101 according to variousembodiments may obtain the fingerprint image using the fingerprintsensor 210 under the condition that a finger is contacted on the displayunit 160. Through the obtaining of the fingerprint image, the electronicdevice 101 according to various embodiments may enhance the operationsfor recognizing the fingerprint.

FIG. 13 is a signal flow diagram illustrating example operations ofcomponents of an electronic device for authentication which uses afingerprint according to various embodiments. These operations may beperformed by at least one of the processor 120 of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 , thefingerprint sensor 210 of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 , and the touch sensor 220 ofFIG. 1 or FIG. 2 .

Referring to FIG. 13 , in operation 1301, in response to detecting atouch input, the touch sensor 220 may transmit to the fingerprint sensor210 a signal indicating the detection of the touch input. Thefingerprint sensor 210 may receive the signal from the touch sensor 220.

In operation 1303, in response to receiving the signal from the touchsensor 220, the fingerprint sensor 210 may obtain a fingerprint image.The fingerprint sensor 210 may obtain the fingerprint image toauthenticate a user.

In operation 1305, in response to obtaining the fingerprint image, thefingerprint sensor 210 may provide information on the fingerprint imageto the application 230 executed in the secure execution environment ofthe processor 120. For example, in response to obtaining the fingerprintimage, the fingerprint sensor 210 may provide the information on thefingerprint image to the application 230 through the at least one firstcore. The application 230 may receive the information on the fingerprintimage.

In operation 1307, the application 230 may compare the fingerprint imagewith a reference image stored in a secure region.

In operation 1309, based on the comparison result, the application 230may identify whether to authenticate a user.

In operation 1310, the application 230 may provide information on theidentification result to the processor 120. For example, the application230 may provide the information on the identification result to thegeneral execution environment of the processor 120. For example, theapplication 230 may provide the information on the identification resultto the at least one second core through the at least one first core. Invarious embodiments, based on the identification result, the processor120 may display a feedback for authentication on the display unit 160through the at least one second core. For example, based on theidentification result, the processor 120 may change a screen beingdisplayed to indicate an authentication success, or may change a screenbeing displayed to indicate an authentication failure.

In operation 1311, after transmitting the information on the fingerprintimage, the fingerprint sensor 210 may switch an active state forobtaining the fingerprint image to a standby state for identifyingwhether the touch input is released.

In operation 1313, the touch sensor 220 may transmit to the fingerprintsensor 210 a signal indicating that the touch input is released. Thefingerprint sensor 210 may receive the signal from the touch sensor 220.

In operation 1315, in response to receiving the signal from the touchsensor 220, the fingerprint sensor 210 may switch the standby state tothe inactive state. For example, the fingerprint sensor 210 may switchthe standby state to the inactive state, in order to reduce powerconsumed by an operation of the fingerprint sensor 210.

Methods based on the embodiments disclosed in the claims and/orspecification of the disclosure can be implemented in hardware,software, or a combination of both.

When implemented in software, computer readable recording medium forstoring one or more programs (e.g., software modules) can be provided.The one or more programs stored in the computer readable recordingmedium are configured for execution performed by one or more processorsin the electronic device. The one or more programs include instructionsfor allowing the electronic device to execute the methods based on theembodiments disclosed in the claims and/or specification of thedisclosure.

The program (e.g., the software module or software) can be stored in arandom access memory, a non-volatile memory including a flash memory, aRead Only Memory (ROM), an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read OnlyMemory (EEPROM), a magnetic disc storage device, a Compact Disc-ROM(CD-ROM), Digital Versatile Discs (DVDs) or other forms of opticalstorage devices, and a magnetic cassette. The program can be stored in amemory configured in combination of all or some of these storage media.In addition, the configured memory may be plural in number.

Further, the program can be stored in an attachable storage devicecapable of accessing the electronic device through a communicationnetwork such as the Internet, an Intranet, a Local Area Network (LAN), aWide LAN (WLAN), or a Storage Area Network (SAN) or a communicationnetwork configured by combining the networks. The storage device canhave an access to a device for performing an embodiment of thedisclosure via an external port. In addition, an additional storagedevice on a communication network can have an access to the device forperforming the embodiment of the disclosure.

In the aforementioned specific embodiments of the disclosure, acomponent included in the disclosure is expressed in a singular orplural form according to the specific example embodiment proposedherein. However, the singular or plural expression is selected properlyfor a situation proposed for the convenience of explanation, and thusthe disclosure is not limited to a single or a plurality of components.Therefore, a component expressed in a plural form can also be expressedin a singular form, or vice versa.

An electronic device and a method thereof according to variousembodiments may use interworking between a touch sensor of theelectronic device and a fingerprint sensor of the electronic device toobtain information associated with a fingerprint, thereby enhancing arecognition rate of the fingerprint.

Advantages acquired in the disclosure are not limited to theaforementioned advantages. Other advantages not mentioned herein can beclearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the disclosurepertains from the following descriptions.

While the disclosure has been illustrated and described with referenceto various example embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosureincluding that defined, for example, by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device comprising: a display; afingerprint sensor disposed below the display; a touch sensoroperatively coupled with the display and the fingerprint sensor; and atleast one processor, wherein the fingerprint sensor is configured to:receive from the at least one processor a signal requesting thefingerprint sensor to obtain at least one fingerprint image to registera fingerprint or to recognize the fingerprint; identify whether a signalindicating detection of a touch input is received from the touch sensorin response to receiving the signal requesting to obtain the at leastone fingerprint image; obtain the at least one fingerprint image inresponse to receiving the signal indicating the detection of the touchinput from the touch sensor; transmit, to the at least one processor,information on the at least one fingerprint image for the registrationor recognition of the fingerprint, in response to the obtaining; receivea signal indicating that the touch input is released from the touchsensor after transmitting the information on the at least onefingerprint image; and transmit the signal indicating that the touchinput is released to the at least one processor in response to receivingthe signal indicating that the touch input is released.
 2. Theelectronic device of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor isconfigured to: switch a state of the fingerprint sensor to a standbystate for identifying whether the signal indicating the detection of thetouch input is received from the touch sensor in response to receivingthe signal requesting to obtain the at least one fingerprint image;switch the standby state to an active state for obtaining the at leastone fingerprint image in response to receiving the signal indicating thedetection of the touch input from the touch sensor; obtain the at leastone fingerprint image in response to the switching to the active state;and switch the active state to the standby state for identifying whetherthe signal indicating that the touch input is released is received basedon obtaining the at least one fingerprint image.
 3. The electronicdevice of claim 1, further comprising a memory configured to store anapplication executable in a secure execution environment of the at leastone processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:request the application executed in the secure execution environment byaccessing the memory, to obtain the at least one fingerprint image toregister the fingerprint image, in response to receiving an inputrequesting to register the fingerprint; and transmit to the fingerprintsensor the signal requesting to obtain the at least one fingerprintimage using the application which receives the request.
 4. Theelectronic device of claim 3, wherein the application is configured tonotify the at least one processor of a signal indicating that thefingerprint image is successfully obtained based on receivinginformation on the at least one fingerprint image.
 5. The electronicdevice of claim 4, wherein the fingerprint sensor is configured to:receive a signal indicating that the touch input is released from thetouch sensor based on transmitting the information on the at least onefingerprint image; and transmit the signal indicating that the touchinput is released to the at least one processor in response to receivingthe signal indicating that the touch input is released, and wherein theat least one processor is further configured to: receive a signalindicating that the touch input is released from the fingerprint sensorusing the application; and identify that the registering of thefingerprint is successfully complete using the application, based onreceiving the signal indicating that the touch input is released fromthe fingerprint sensor.
 6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein thefingerprint sensor is further configured to: receive a signal indicatingthat the touch input is released from the touch sensor based ontransmitting the information on the at least one fingerprint image;transmit the signal indicating that the touch input is released to theat least one processor in response to receiving the signal indicatingthat the touch input is released; and switch a state of the fingerprintsensor to an inactive state based on the transmission of the signalindicating the touch input is released.
 7. An electronic devicecomprising: a display; a fingerprint sensor disposed below the display;a touch sensor operatively coupled with the fingerprint sensor and thedisplay; and at least one processor, wherein the fingerprint sensor isconfigured to: receive a signal requesting the fingerprint sensor toobtain a fingerprint image from the at least one processor while in aninactive state; switch a state of the fingerprint sensor to a standbystate for identifying whether a signal indicating detection of a touchinput is received from the touch sensor in response to receiving thesignal requesting the fingerprint sensor to obtain the fingerprintimage; switch the standby state to an active state in response toreceiving the signal indicating the detection of the touch input fromthe touch sensor while in the standby state; obtain the fingerprintimage in response to the switching to the active state; and transmitinformation on the fingerprint image to the at least one processor inresponse to the obtaining.
 8. The electronic device of claim 7, furthercomprising a memory configured to store an application executable in asecure execution environment of the at least one processor, wherein theat least one processor is configured to: receive information on thefingerprint image using the application; compare the fingerprint imagewith a reference fingerprint image registered in the electronic deviceusing the application; and identify whether to authenticate a user whoprovides the fingerprint image based on the comparison result.
 9. Theelectronic device of claim 7, wherein the fingerprint sensor is furtherconfigured to switch the active state to a standby state for identifyingwhether a signal indicating that the touch input is released is receivedfrom the touch sensor based on transmitting the information on thefingerprint image.
 10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein thefingerprint sensor is further configured to: receive the signalindicating that the touch input is released from the touch sensor whilein the standby state for identifying whether the signal indicating therelease of the touch input is received from the touch sensor; and switchthe standby state for identifying whether the signal is received fromthe touch sensor to the inactive state based on receiving the signalindicating that the touch input is released from the touch sensor. 11.The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the fingerprint sensor isconfigured to: transmit to the at least one processor the signalindicating that the touch input is released in response to receiving thesignal indicating that the touch input is released from the touchsensor; and switch the standby state for identifying whether the signalis received from the touch sensor to the inactive state based ontransmitting the signal indicating that the touch input is released. 12.The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the fingerprint sensor isphysically connected with the touch sensor.
 13. A method for operatingan electronic device, comprising: receiving, by a fingerprint sensor ofthe electronic device, a signal requesting the fingerprint sensor toobtain at least one fingerprint image to register a fingerprint or torecognize the fingerprint from at least one processor of the electronicdevice; identifying, by the fingerprint sensor, whether a signalindicating detection of a touch input is received from a touch sensor inresponse to receiving the signal requesting to obtain the at least onefingerprint image; obtaining, by the fingerprint sensor, the at leastone fingerprint image in response to receiving the signal indicating thedetection of the touch input from the touch sensor; transmitting, by thefingerprint sensor, information on the at least one fingerprint imagefor the registration or recognition of the fingerprint to the at leastone processor, in response to the obtaining; receiving, by thefingerprint sensor, a signal indicating that the touch input is releasedfrom the touch sensor after transmitting the information on the at leastone fingerprint image; and transmitting, by the fingerprint sensor, thesignal indicating that the touch input is released to the at least oneprocessor in response to receiving the signal indicating that the touchinput is released.
 14. A method for operating an electronic device,comprising: receiving, by a fingerprint sensor of the electronic device,a signal requesting the fingerprint sensor to obtain a fingerprint imagefrom at least one processor of the electronic device while in aninactive state; switching, by the fingerprint sensor, a state of thefingerprint sensor to a standby state for identifying whether a signalindicating detection of a touch input is received from a touch sensor ofthe electronic device in response to receiving the signal requesting thefingerprint sensor to obtain the fingerprint image; switching, by thefingerprint sensor, the standby state to an active state in response toreceiving the signal indicating the detection of the touch input fromthe touch sensor while in the standby state; obtaining, by thefingerprint sensor, the fingerprint image in response to the switchingto the active state; and transmitting, by the fingerprint sensor,information on the fingerprint image to the at least one processor inresponse to the obtaining.